Program Highlights for Valencia, Spain

Live in a cutting-edge city rich in culture, with picturesque museums, historic monuments, modern performing arts venues, and the City of Arts and Sciences, a unique complex devoted to scientific and cultural dissemination.

Enjoy all that this coastal city has to offer, from miles of beaches, to seaside promenades, ocean sports, and access to l’Oceanographic, the largest marine center in Europe.

Explore the third-largest city in Spain on Valencia’s 120+ kilometers of bike lanes and garden causeways that connect this “bike-friendly” city’s most important and desirable areas.

Experience Valencian cuisine, which utilizes the richness of locally grown produce and seafood to put a spin on traditional Mediterranean dishes, in the birthplace of paella (one of Spain’s most well-known specialties).

Participate in the two-week-long Fallas celebration each spring, a regional festival that combines historic, religious, and comedic processions and events and culminates with midnight bonfires and fireworks displays.

The USAC Resident Director and staff are present on-site full-time to welcome and support you during your term abroad.

Why Study in Valencia?

Live and learn in Valencia, one of Spain’s most cosmopolitan cities. Its location on the Mediterranean coast and status as one of Spain’s most cultural and cutting-edge cities means that you can sail in the early morning, attend stimulating courses at one of Spain’s most beautiful and sustainable campuses, round off your day by visiting one of the cities many museums or performing arts venues, and finally grab a casual or upscale meal at one of the cities internationally-renowned eateries. Being the third-largest city in Spain, Valencia is a transportation hub and a great location from which to plan personal travel (although the city has so much to offer that you may be content to spend your entire semester in this area alone!)

You will have the opportunity to study the Spanish language and the intricacies of Spanish culture, history, and society through a wide selection of academic courses, supplemented by included field trips. An intensive language approach allows you to complete up to three semesters of Spanish language coursework in only one semester, and living abroad provides the unparalleled opportunity to practice and perfect your Spanish through daily interactions with locals. Valencia is a truly international city that plays a key role in the global economy, also making it an ideal location for business students to expand their coursework beyond the classroom.

Valencians embrace the Mediterranean climate by spending a lot of time outdoors and incorporating local produce and ingredients in their cooking. Be inspired to embrace this lifestyle by trying different outdoor activities, like sailing or swimming, and by shopping at Valencia’s Central Market, the largest market in Europe dedicated to the sale of fresh products like fruits, vegetables, cheeses, meats, and seafood pulled right from the ocean. You can consider yourself a true Valencian once you’ve mastered paella, one of Spain’s most well-known dishes and one that originated in Valencia.

From soft sand beaches, to cultural centers, historic monuments, nature and bio parks, contemporary and fine art museums, architectural landmarks, exhibition centers, outdoor recreation areas, UNESCO sites, and seaside promenades, the city of Valencia has something to meet every interest and keep you busy for your entire semester abroad (make sure you leave time to study!). The challenge in Valencia is not finding something to do, but choosing between all the options available to you.